Elemeno P

Bio

Pop music: an expression of the current consciousness of what’s happening. An onomatopoetic description for sure, a boom, a bang that jolts and shakes things around, it can shift and change into many forms, its chameleon nature becomes seductive. Phil Spector called the stuff he did "little symphonies", encapsulated stories about life that has just as much resonance as the high brow classical form he borrowed from. Pop music is the sound of the actual, all the little details of how we live our lives, the soundtrack to our reality.

Elemeno P make pop music that bangs, guitar power pop with big choruses that is an invitation to a party next to a pool with lots of girlies, where the summer is endless and school or work is but a distant memory. Choice.

Dave Gibson describes the band as "We’re just happy people" and Dave is indeed a person full of the jollification that life can bring. But don’t let that cloud your perspective, he has a solid background in musical performance. Playing in a variety of acts: Queen City Big Band, hardcore band Nickel and in 1998 toured Eastern Europe in a band called Elephant, where he broke his back - the fun has to stop sometimes. He’s also somewhat of a of a media veteran, having appeared in numerous commercials and featuring in the film The Locals and also a stint as a radio DJ. Surprisingly finding time to complete a commerce degree, he’s a man who knows what to do and how to do it.

His Glenfield homeboy, Justyn Pilbrow provides the raunchy riffs that slice like one of Chef Tony’s multi-tasking knives, learnt by a studious listen to Metallica as a youth. They first collaborated on something called My Rhymes are like Butter a "piss take" of sorts. But this shows an appreciation of all music, Dave loves his funky stuff (he started of as a drummer) and Justyn not only makes music for TVNZ shows, but is the bass player for jazzy bohemians Relaxomatic Project.

Variety in abundance.

The duo produced a demo then pitched it around the way, this was before there was any band, so what was important were the actual songs, it was those "little symphonies" that sold them, not any prefabricated image, just the inherent quality of their pop creations. As Dave told me over a few beers "…it all comes down to the songs, the other bits can be frustrating at the best of times". Lucky for them that getting a band together, finding the right people and all that, was made easier with the addition of big Scotty Pearson on drums and Lani Purkis on bass.

Scotty doesn’t come from Glenfield but from the hinterland, a “Naki” boy who plays in a large and in charge style laying down the “4-4’s” with gusto. Once again he has a solid musical background having played in many a band and spent over a year in the States playing with the hard touring Hoi Polloi, this is what we call "paying dues".

Lani joined early 2002 and gives the boys a true rocking and driving edge. A West Auckland homegirl who also provides the bass boom in the all female band Foamy Ed. When the rest of the band start talking about her it turns into rampant praise "she’s got an x factor", "she made us all step up to the mark when it comes to rock… she changed our worlds", they like her.

When they started to play live (first gig was support for Sum 41) they tore it up, anyone who has seen them in the live realm would be impressed. Playing out is the sine quo non of Rock n Roll, it’s where it all comes together and by now they are a finely honed rockn’roll killing machine. But making records is always the end of the process; it just makes it all more accessible, it makes things solid and tangible. There has been four singles and now the debut album, the aptly named Love and Disrespect.

Bit of a gem really, working the pop paradigm of guitar power chords bass throb, drum beats and melodic vocals to perfection. The added textures of organ and even a bit of Electro-clash (the intro to Weed Out) add variety. They had it mastered in New York with legend Howie Weinberg behind the desk ("it looked like the Tardis and nobody except Howie knew how to work it") and its got that big sound that pop has always reached for. Heaps of vitality that jumps out of the speakers and whacks like a baseball bat.

Sounds great but it is the songs that matter, take the anthemic Fast Times in Tahoe with that line "they say that absence makes the heart grow fonder/ But I doubt it I really doubt it/ playing ping pong over oceans/ messing with emotions messing with my head". That’s good stuff, a travel song about separation, where the geography is indicative of a state of mind. Pop music is anything but dumb, beneath the seemingly simplistic ‘”fun” is a darker sense. Dave and Justyn conclude that the album is about “girls and geography” and they are following some of rockn’roll’s greatest aviators, Chuck Berry for example, in this conceptual manner.

The singles indicated pop talent, Verona is Ramones like in the way it drops cultural references and uses them as a backdrop to the eternal quest of boy wanting girl and Nirvana is about Dave’s childhood and the golden glow that music can give you. But there are many good tunes here, the wistful Goodbye, romantic urges of Fight For You and the difficulties of drugs before (or is it because of?) feminine company in Weed Out.

Elemeno P went on to release Trouble In Paradise in 2005, and their self-titled album Elemeno P in 2008.

Comments (Newest First)

Elemeno P MySpace ConcertPosted: Mon Dec 3, 2007 6:21 pmTuesday 11th December is the date when local pop-rock outfit Elemeno P will treat their MySpace fans to a FREE concert. The MySpace Secret Show is an exclusive event that will see the Auckland-based band return to the stage after recording their upcoming album. The special return-gig will take place at an undisclosed venue in Auckland City, with MySpace users being among the first to be treated to tracks from their forthcoming album, including the new single ‘Baby Come On’.

With six years, sixty thousand records and hundreds of gigs to their name, Elemeno P have proved themselves as one of New Zealand’s favourite bands. After locking themselves away in a self-built basement studio at the base of Mount Eden, the band have emerged with a fresh new sound in the shape of the their forthcoming third album set for release in March 2008.

This exclusive MySpace gig follows in the footsteps of the hugely successful Secret Show launch event with rock band Evermore earlier in the year.

The only way MySpace users can find out specific details about this and future concerts is by adding Secret Shows as a ‘friend’ to their profile via www.myspace.com/secretshowsnz. This will ensure they are the first to find out details as they are made available. When all is revealed, entry to the show is on a first-come-first-served basis.

This winter, break the boredom barrier, get off the couch and head out to catch two of the hottest rock bands touring the nation together for the first time - Elemeno P and Goodnight Nurse.

It has been a busy year for Elemeno P in New Zealand and in Australia. On this side of the ditch their sophomore album ‘Trouble in Paradise’ has gone platinum; you have seen their faces all over TV in the ‘Coke Rock the Tropics Promotion’; heard the singles ‘1157’ and ‘You Are’ on the radio; and they have been performing at all the big festivals over summer. Their new single ‘One Left Standing’ hits the TV and radio airwaves next week.

In Australia, the single ‘You Are’ has been in the Top 10 most added songs at radio for 2 weeks and the video was added to Channel V and MTV. Elemeno P joined The Darkness, James Blunt, Snoop Dogg, Scribe and Savage and attended the MTV awards in Sydney. Barely stopping to catch their breath, they have only just returned from a triumphant tour of Australia supporting the Veronicas, where Elemeno P’s live show was critically acclaimed and won them many new fans.

Goodnight Nurse deserves the title of ‘The Next Big Thing’. Their debut album ‘Always and Never’ was released in January, debuted at #5 on the NZ album charts and went gold. Having honed their live skills on the Boost Mobile NZ Schools tour playing to over 50,000 people, Goodnight Nurse are most definitely one of New Zealand’s biggest up-and-coming rock acts.

So what do you have to loose? Nothing – except missing out on a bloody great night out!!

I love Elemeno PPosted: Sat Apr 30, 2005 12:59 pmthey r so cool i live in the US and no one knows who they r here. I want to get my hands on their cds. i have them on one cd with there song Verona its cool, i feel lik eits my duity to tell everyone they rock

Big Day OutPosted: Mon Jan 19, 2004 1:28 pmwhoeva sed that it was a waste of time you obviously wernt there because ELEMENO P WAS DA SHIT haha I neva realli lyked kiwi musik but elemeno p is a favourite i was right up the front at the bdo having the best time eva i reakon they were one of the best bands there! Rock on elemeno p!!!! verona yehhhhh

RE: Elemeno P Entertainment AwardsPosted: Sat Dec 27, 2003 2:22 amWhat the hell is going on with these awards? Elemeno P Suck! (thats my own opinion) If they are getting funding or sponsors then i just think its a waste of money! LMNOP? What a Joke of a Band! RoooarrrrrRRRRR!

RE: Elemeno P Entertainment AwardsPosted: Sat Nov 8, 2003 12:55 pmAny awards that nz music can benefit from have got to be positive. While Elemeno P's bubble gum pop may not be original, they, and a number of other fairly new artists have helped contribute to raising the awareness of nz music. Now that has to be a good thing!

Other bands in that category are Blindspott, Goldenhorse, Nesian Mystick and Zed.

Personally, it's yet another awards thing where only mainstream stuff ends up winning anything. And as for it's final result when they do actually finally draw it - "When voting online for the 2003 Entertainment Awards for the first time, a cookie will be placed on your computer to ensure you cannot vote repeatedly" - please. Vote, delete cookie, repeat.

Elemeno P Entertainment AwardsPosted: Fri Nov 7, 2003 7:59 amElemeno P has been nominated for best original band and best NZ music video for the NZ entertainment awards. If you want them to win please feel free to vote at: http://www.xlr8online.co.nz/entertainmentAward.php

Elemeno P NewsPosted: Fri Oct 10, 2003 8:03 am'Urban Getaway' the single will be in stores in a few weeks. It will have a Deceptikonz remix of 'Verona' and a live recording of the Jaw Breaker cover Elemeno P do called 'BoxcarSlive' from their show in Hamilton.

Elemeno P CompetitionPosted: Tue Sep 9, 2003 8:01 amSend in your suggestions to Elemeno P and be in the draw to win a fresh new Elemeno P T-Shirt - there's one more week to go in this competition so get in quick.

1. E-mail Elemeno P with the name of the song you think should be the next single they release from their record, in the subject heading of your e-mail (this excludes Tahoe, Nirvana, Every Day's A Saturday and Verona as they have already been released)

2. Give them your address and T-Shirt size in the e-mail and you're in the draw - simple really.

As many of you know, Elemeno P will be releasing their debut album 'Love & Disrespect' on 4 July 2003. They are going to be having a party on 4 July at the Auckland Town Hall Concert Chambers to celebrate the release of their debut album, and this will be an exclusive event, as you won't be able to buy tickets. You can, however, win them from The Edge - or as follows:

Basically we want you to do one of two things (if you do both your chances are increased obviously). Make an Elemeno P banner and put it somewhere prominent at your school or university?on a bridge, a roof whatever takes your fancy. Take a photo and send it to us via email or in the post?try your best not to get arrested or hurt, furthermore, send us a bunch of email addresses of people you think should be on the Elemeno P mailing list - now the best, and the quickest will be in the draw for the following.

Grand prize:

Trip for two to Auckland and VIP passes for the show Flash Accommodation for the night Two fresh new Elemeno P T-shirts and a signed Copy of 'Love and Disrespect'

2nd Prize:
Four VIP passes to the gig
2 Elemeno P T-shirts and a signed Copy of 'Love and Disrespect'

3rd Prize:
2 VIP passes to the gig and a signed Copy of 'Love and Disrespect'

Plus I have 50 double passes to the show to give away at will - so it's up to you to convince me

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